Under-fire Derby boss Nigel Clough hopes to have left-back Gareth Roberts available for the home clash with Barnsley.
Roberts has missed the last two matches with a heavily bruised shin but could return to give the Rams a timely boost.
Centre-back Jake Buxton is also expected to make the squad despite a bout of sickness earlier in the week.
However, goalkeeping duo Stephen Bywater (side muscle) and Saul Deeney (shoulder) remain sidelined so Frank Fielding will again line up between the posts.
James Bailey (groin) and Dean Leacock (illness) have not yet returned to full training and Russell Anderson is still out with hamstring and calf injuries.
Clough's men were beaten 3-1 at home by Doncaster in midweek, their seventh defeat in their last eight home games.
Barnsley's latest signing Marlon Harewood could make his full debut for the Tykes at Pride Park.
Harewood, 31, joined on loan from Blackpool until the end of the season last week and stepped off the substitutes' bench in the 2-0 home defeat to Norwich.
But manager Mark Robins has fitness doubts about five players, who all face late fitness tests.
Centre-half Jason Shackell is struggling with the facial injuries that required emergency dental treatment last weekend following a collision against Norwich and versatile defender Bobby Hassell was forced out of the same match with a tight hamstring.
Jacob Mellis, on loan from Chelsea, is still nursing the knock which kept him out last weekend and fellow midfielder Nathan Doyle, who also missed out against the Canaries, has a calf problem.
Jay McEveley could return to the squad following a long-term knee injury. The former Derby full-back, sidelined since mid-October, was scheduled for a midweek run out with the reserves but was withdrawn due to illness.
